ART FARMER - Art (1960-2002) RM / Argo Cadet Special Collection - 3 / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During a career that spanned close to a half century, Art Farmer was well-known for his consistency as a soloist and a bandleader. This series of studio sessions from 1960, with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Tommy Williams, and drummer Albert Heathe, find the trumpeter in great form, with the usually impeccable accompaniment one expects from Flanagan. Many of the rich ballads featured, including "So Beats My Heart for You," "Goodbye Old Girl," and "Younger Than Springtime," have fallen out of favor in the early 21st century, but Farmer's impeccable performances of these chestnuts sound timeless. A slightly jaunty take of Benny Golson's "Out of the Past" and a spirited rendition of "The Best Thing for You Is Me" also merit attention. by Ken Dryden 

Tracklist :
1   So Beats My Heart For You  4:38
Pat Ballard / Charles Herderson / Tom Waring
2   Goodbye Old Girl  4:30
Richard Adler / Jerry Ross
3   Who Cares  5:15
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
4   Out Of The Past  5:20
Benny Golson
5   Younger Than Springtime  5:38
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
6   The Best Thing For You Is Me  4:06
Irving Berlin
7   I'm A Fool To Want You  5:27
Joel Herron / Frank Sinatra / Jack Wolf
8   That Ole Devil Called Love  4:14
Doris Fisher / Allan Roberts
Credits :
Bass – Tommy Williams
Drums – Albert Heath
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Trumpet – Art Farmer

RAMSEY LEWIS - Mother Nature's Son (1968-2002) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This album was another brainchild of Marshall Chess' regime at Chess Records and, in a sense, is of a piece with Electric Mud by Muddy Waters -- here, he's getting Ramsey Lewis, supported by an orchestra conducted and arranged by Charles Stepney, to do jazz improvisations on ten songs from The Beatles (aka The White Album). The results are a good deal more impressive and a lot less awkward than Electric Mud, Lewis and company being in far greater sympathy with this material than Muddy Waters was with Rolling Stones material. The orchestrations are occasionally a bit thick and treacly, but when Lewis jumps in and his playing takes flight, songs such as "Julia" soar off in all manner of unexpected and delightful directions, while "Back in the U.S.S.R.," divorced from its Chuck Berry sound, still serves as the basis for some funky improvisations by the pianist. The album probably didn't do much more for Lewis' career than Electric Mud did for Muddy Waters, but it's a better fit with Lewis and an enjoyable excursion. The cover art is also funny enough to almost make it worth the price of the LP. by Bruce Eder  
Tracklist :
1     Mother Nature's Son 4:56
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
2     Rocky Raccoon 2:39
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
3     Julia 4:19
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
4     Back In The U.S.S.R. 3:16
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
5     Dear Prudence 4:54
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
6     Cry Baby Cry 3:50
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
7     Good Night 5:55
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
8     Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey 3:14
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
9     Sexy Sadie 2:44
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
10     Black Bird 4:33
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Credits :
Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra], Effects [Electronic Effects On The Moog], Producer – Charles Stepney

THE RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO - Another Voyage (1969-2004) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Issued in September 1969, Another Voyage is one of the Ramsey Lewis Trio's best efforts, during its initial release making it into the R&B Top 35. With the lineup of Lewis, drummer Maurice White, and bassist Cleveland Eaton, the LP serves as a prime example of the muscular Chicago sound while preserving the pianist's trademark elegance. In addition to such throbbing, kinetic workouts as Eddie Harris' "Bold and Black" and "If You've Got It Flaunt It, Pts. 1-2," there's a nice mid-groovin' cover of Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour," Harris' contemplative "How Beautiful Is Spring," and the sumptuous "Opus V," written by Charles Stepney. Of special note is future Earth, Wind & Fire leader White's use of the kalimba on "Uhuru." The pumping "Do What You Wanna" became a post-release favorite during the late '90s and was included on the two-LP set Inside Ramsey Lewis. by Ed Hogan
Tracklist :
1     If You've Got It, Flaunt It, Pt. 2 2:49
Cleveland Eaton / Ramsey Lewis / Maurice White
2     Wandering Rose 4:55
Neal Creque
3     How Beautiful Is Spring 4:33
Eddie Harris
4     Do What You Wanna 2:45
Ramsey Lewis
5     My Cherie Amour 3:49
Bill Cosby / Kerry Moy / Stevie Wonder
6     Bold and Black 4:07
Eddie Harris
7     Opus Number 5 5:38
Charles Stepney
8     Uhuru 2:20
Maurice White
9     Cecile 3:04
Cleveland Eaton
10     If You've Got It, Flaunt It, Pt. 2 2:18
Cleveland Eaton / Ramsey Lewis / Maurice White
Credits :
Bass [Uncredited] – Cleveland Eaton
Guitar [Uncredited] – Phil Upchurch (faixas: 2, 5, 6)
Kalimba [Uncredited] – Maurice White (faixas: 8)
Percussion [Uncredited] – Maurice White
Producer, Piano [Uncredited] – Ramsey Lewis

CLEA BRADFORD - Her Point of View (1968) lp / Mp3

Vocals. Exuberant jazz and blues vocalist who had series of good albums released in '60s, enjoyed some success with Cadet in late '60s, though these were more soul-oriented records arranged by Richard Evans. She had more straight jazz sessions with Clark Terry, Oliver Nelson and others on Mainstream, Tru-Sound. web
Tracklist:
A1 My Love's A Monster 2:55
Written-By – Bradford, Evans
A2 Spring Is Here 3:20
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
A3 Summertime 3:00
Written-By – Heyward, Gershwin
A4 The Thrill Is Gone 2:58
Written-By – Brown, Henderson
A5 Bye Bye Blackbird 2:52
Written-By – Dixon, Henderson
A6 Think About That 3:13
Written-By – Clea Bradford
B1 I Need Love 3:00
Written-By – Bradford, Evans
B2 A Place In The Sun 3:20
Written-By – Wells, Miller
B3 What Is This Thing Called Love 2:50
Written-By – Porter
B4 Anything Goes 3:00
Written-By – Porter
B5 Any Day Now 4:22
Written-By – Schuster, Rosenberg, Cunningham
B6 The View From Up Here 3:12
Written-By – Clea Bradford
Credits:
Arranged By – Les Hooper (tracks: A5, B5), Richard Evans (tracks: A1 to A4, A6, B1 to B4, B6)
Vocals –  Clea Bradford